My Mama

Boy, I bet you are holding your breath after reading that title.  But, I bet you aren't holding it quite as tight as my Mama. ;)

Don't worry.  This is a good post.  A good, upbeat, positive post.  I am writing it to remind myself of the qualities that I want to possess as a mom of grown-ups.

You know, sometimes, when I hear my mom say that she got in bed at 1:00 am, or that she needs to clean her house (again) or that she never has time to get anything done, I think, "WHAT are you DOING all day?!"  I think those thoughts when she is talking about having to rush to complete something work-related...or cleaning-related...or chore-related...or even health-related, like wanting time to walk around the track at church.  

In my mind, she is a single woman with two adult daughters...why would she not have "time?"  In my mind, if you aren't working 2 jobs, keeping up with 2 (almost 3) kids (3 years old and younger,) you should really have time to do anything in God's creation in the 24 hours He gives you to do it.

Well, thankfully, my mind isn't always right.  (No surprise there, right?)

My mom talks to people.  She doesn't gossip with people.  She talks.  She finds out what's going on in their lives, listens to their concerns (even if they have nothing to do with her and she can't really change their situation,) and she gives good, Godly advice.  She will, without making you feel like you have inconvenienced her or changed her plans, shove the 27.5 inch stack of "to-do's" sitting on her desk to one side, look you in the eye and ask you to tell her what's going on.  And she means it.  She cries with people who are hurting.  She hugs people who are broken.  She laughs with people who are happy, and most of the time, tries to find a way to turn you into one of those people, if possible.

My mom gives to people, especially her family.  Sick?  She's there with medicine, clear fluids, chicken soup, humidifier, phone number of the top 10 doctors who specialize in your ailment, and the ability to sit and love you until you are better.  Hungry?  She's got a recipe "pinned" just for the occasion, and you are welcomed for dinner.  Tired?  Sure, she can watch the kids...again.  

It takes time to do these things.  And guess what?  These are the things that matter.  And she knows it.  If you are "company," and you don't call first,  she may not let you in her front door because she thinks she has too many dirty dishes or her floor hasn't been swept this week or she left her work stuff piled on a table and her shoes in the floor out of sheer exhaustion...but you can bet that as those chores piled up, she took care of the things that mattered...the people God has put in her life.  It takes time to talk, but most of all, it takes time to listen.  It takes time to love on people.  It takes time to give.  It takes time to fellowship.  It takes time.

She slings baskets and clipboards to organize yet another amazing Fall Festival, Vacation Bible School, Easter Egg Hunt, or whatever else is in her "job description," as she remembers the "why" of her ministry and the 12 people who visited her office because they needed someone who would really care, really talk, and most of all...really listen.  She stays up until 4 in the morning, cleaning her house and making it just right for her friends and family to gather for the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's or a birthday party because the time she had set aside for "chores" was taken up by shopping for a pair of shoes one of her grandchildren needed or talking to her daughter about her concerns this week.  She runs late because she knows that there are things in life that matter more than time.  

We all have 24 hours in this creation God has given us call a "day."  So many days, I fall into bed, exhausted, but my stupid to-do list is complete.  But as I lay there, I think, "I wish I would've played dolls with Hannah Kate for 10 more minutes," or "I wish I would have played Batman one more time with Walker," or "I should've called my neighbor to see if she wanted coffee this morning, and see what's going on in her life today."  My mom also falls into bed, exhausted.  I would be willing to bet that every single day, she has things left on her "to-do list."  But very few wishes left because of people she knows needed or wanted her attention and love.

Here's to My Mama. 

Our Life

For more than three years, several of my Facebook friends have suggested that I blog.  My response, although not aloud, was that I simply do not have time.  Well, apparently, at 8 1/2 months pregnant with our 3rd baby, running a household that consists of a coach, a 3 year old, a 2 year old, a dog and myself...I now have enough time. Ha.  Ha.

I am a follower of Jesus Christ.  That means I am an imperfect sinner, saved by His grace, not a perfect person with all the right answers...but I do know where to find them.  I'm a stay-at-home-mom.  I work part-time for the radio station I worked for before my daughter was born and I am an independent salesperson for Initial Outfitters.  My husband coaches high school football and baseball.  Ironically, I really don't like score-keepers.  I love organization.  I love to help other people by giving them advice based on life lessons that I have learned...it makes me feel useful.  I despise being ignored, and my biggest struggle is with giving advice and the recipient not following it.  God is really working on me with this.  I like to bake.  Quiet people tend to freak me out a little bit, but people who talk too much are more annoying.  I have a personality that my husband says is "In the 5%."  I'm not sure what that means, but he usually says this in comparison with Nick Saban.

I have a lot to say, but I hope to only say things on this blog that glorify God.  I may need some reminders about this.

Our life is crazy and is about to get crazier.  I'm not sure what you think a stay-at-home-mom does.  I can remember, when I was making $60,000 a year at something people called "work" (but was insanely fun to me) thinking, "If I ever get to stay at home with our children, it will be like a vacation all the time."  <--- That is what you call "ignorance."  I wake up, make breakfast, clean up the mess, get kids dressed, work on the work that I do that actually makes us money, do laundry, break up fights, wipe noses, change diapers, wipe bottoms, flush toilets, wash everyone's hands, give snacks, clean up the mess again, do laundry, play outside, clean up outside toys, plan dinner, buy groceries, balance our budget, make lunch, clean up more messes, get other people to take naps, pick up the house, schedule parties/make plans to attend parties, sweep, mop, dust, vacuum, windex, clean bathrooms, make dinner, make deals about eating dinner, feed the dog, give baths, put on pjs, kiss bumps and bruises, read stories, color, play house, play superheroes, play with blocks, teach life lessons, teach learning lessons, potty train, give lots of hugs and kisses, try not to lose my temper, pay bills and when I can...take a shower.

That is really the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to our life.  But, I guess that's what blogging is all about.  You will get to see what goes on with us as time goes on.  Thank you for reading.  God really IS working in our life.  I hope to share with you all the amazing things He has done and is doing as time goes on.  Until next time...